A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour has challenged long-standing stereotypes about only children, revealing that they may experience better mental health, higher intelligence, and greater creativity than those with siblings.
The research, conducted by a team of Chinese scientists, assessed 7,186 individuals aged 18 to 30, including both only children and those with siblings. Through a combination of brain imaging, behavioral evaluations, and questionnaires addressing socioeconomic status and childhood trauma, the researchers found that only children showed positive correlations with neurocognitive performance and mental health, contrary to the traditional belief that they may suffer from social or behavioral problems.
“Contrary to the common stereotypes linking only children to problematic behaviors, our findings indicate that they exhibit stronger neurocognitive abilities and healthier mental well-being,” the researchers noted.
The study revealed that only children generally scored higher in areas such as memory retention, language proficiency, and emotional stability. They were also found to be less impulsive and reward-dependent, qualities often associated with lower levels of need for external approval.
The largest driver of these positive outcomes, however, is not the absence of siblings but the quality of the home environment. According to the study, parents play a critical role in a child’s happiness and emotional development. The research emphasized that children’s life satisfaction and well-being are most influenced by having supportive, engaged parents, regardless of whether they have siblings.
Furthermore, the study found that only children exhibited greater life satisfaction, openness, and creativity. These traits, along with their improved mental health, suggest that a lack of siblings does not negatively impact their social development, as once feared.
“More economic resources, combined with increased parental attention and responsiveness, can provide a strong foundation for intellectual competence, psychological well-being, and mature social behavior in only children,” the researchers concluded.
The findings also challenge the notion that larger families equate to greater happiness. A previous study found that while the birth of a first child typically boosts parental happiness, the arrival of subsequent children tends to cause a gradual decline in maternal happiness, a trend not significantly observed in fathers.
With rising costs and increasing pressures on families, having fewer children may offer economic advantages and more opportunities for parents to focus on their child’s development. This trend may contribute to a growing number of only children in future generations.
Naomi Magnus, a psychotherapist and clinical director of North London Therapy, noted that the narrative around only children may need to shift. “Historically, the focus has been on what only children miss out on,” Magnus told The New York Post. “But with the growing number of only children, we should also consider what they gain from their unique experiences.”
As the landscape of family dynamics continues to evolve, the benefits of being an only child—ranging from improved mental health to stronger cognitive abilities—are becoming increasingly recognized.
